I had a post on this not too long ago but can't find it now. One symptom that I think stands out is black spots on leaves with various other colors something like this:

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Intresting, my rabbit eye is not showing any symptoms like this but my Emerald is. All those shoots I said that had fruit buds on them have lots of those black to dark brown tiny spots all over them. Not showing any red or yellow like yours but the spots are much more numerous. Almost like it has freckels all over the leafs. The ph in that bed test in the very low 4s to high 3s. Thinking I should flush both of those beds now with tap water?

Spots without other colors can be a disease like this on my Santa Fe. These spots show up every year and aren't pH related. Also don't really cause a problem. This is the bottom of the leaves.

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Another picture of the spots on Santa Fe, top of leaves:

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There are other leaf spotting diseases. Low pH will have colors other than grey or black spots, I think.

The first picture above showing reds with the spots is an Emerald plant. The leaves fall off when they get worse than that picture. The first leaves affected are the oldest leaves on current season shoots. So the coloring starts at the oldest and progresses up each stem. After a couple waterings with well water, the plant is growing nicely now as seen below:

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Thanks again for your help fruitnut!!! Working nights tonight but when I get home I will take some pics and post them on here to see what you think. After watering with the well water is the ph increase immidiate or does it take a few days to register?

It's immediate and seems stable. But I usually wait at least a few hrs after application to check pH. There is always a lot of variation within one pot. Often a point or two in pH value. So one reading at 3.5 is no reason to apply alkaline well water.

You are probably right fruitnut, but I dont know how much longer I can go with out sleep dwelling over my poor little plant! Ive checked the ph 4 times the last two weeks and on all 4 sides of the plant its 3.2 to 3.7 and thats about 5 inches into the soil. When I first planted this particular plant I did add a couple table spoons of Iron Sulfate in a ring about 18 inches from the cain. The roots have now grown out to about that distance and this is where I have been taking my readings. I need to test up closer to the base of the plant but I would die if brake some roots and kill the poor thing. On top of that I also added 1/2 cup of sulfer to the top layer. I think I might have gotten alittle carried away with acidifiers. This was all about 3 months ago so wont the ph continue to fall for a few more months?

Seeing that you got carried away with acid ferts, I would flush out the residual chems and start fresh.

My Jewel Bushes exhibit those tiny freckles, some kind of fungus or mold?, didn't affect the berries or new growth, just unsightly, but no big deal.

We had a very very wet spring, I attribute the spots to that.

Hi Blueboy1977,

I was wondering how you are checking the PH of your soil? I have been looking for a reliable and easy way to check my PH, but haven't found one yet.

Thanks,

Brett

i use a cheap probe type meter from home depot. U just have to scrub it with a brillow pad after every use to get a reliable reading. That being said, im starting to question some of the readings im getting with that meter. Also u have to use deionized or distilled water to take the readings. Another way is catch some water draining from the bottom of the pot and use ph paper or a meter that test liquid ph.

The cheap meter I bought with a probe also says to use a brillow pad on it after each use. I also instructs to push the probe into moist soil, not water. The instructions specifically say to not put the probe in water. I think it's pretty accurate, seems consistent from one side of a pot to another or when I move from a pot to a plant in the groud.

RM